METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A method of producing a heat exchanger is provided that includes a connection between two elements of a heat exchanger, the two elements being connectible to each other in at least one respective contact surface. An adhesive film is applied to at least one of the elements in the region of the respective contact surface, two elements being brought in contact with each other by applying pressure and an adhesive bond being produced between the elements by means of the adhesive film. An associated heat exchanger is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for producing a heat exchanger with a connection between two elements of the heat exchanger, the two elements being connectable to one another on at least one contact surface, the method comprising: applying an adhesive film to at least one of the elements in a region of the respective contact surface; and bringing the two elements into contact with one another via a compressive force, wherein an adhesive bond is formed between the elements by the adhesive film.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive film is dry to a touch, and wherein an adhesive effect of the adhesive film is produced by the application of a compressive force and/or by heating the adhesive film.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive film has a layer thickness between 10 m and 250 m.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive film is laminated onto one of the elements and/or inserted into a recess in one of the elements.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive film is applied to one of the elements over an entire area in a region of the contact surface, or wherein the adhesive film is precisely fitted onto the respective contact surface of one of the elements.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a compressive force of 0.005 N/mm.sup.2 and 15 M/mm.sup.2 is applied to the elements that are brought into contact with one another for bonding.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: coating at least one element with the adhesive film; heating the elements and the adhesive film arranged in the contact surface; cooling the elements and the adhesive film; and checking a tightness of the produced bond between the elements, wherein the adhesive film is softened by the heating, wherein the adhesive film is at least partially displaced by at least one of the elements, and wherein the layer thickness between the elements after heating is lower than before heating.

8. A heat exchanger comprising at least two elements, the heat exchanger being produced by a method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two elements are formed by tubes and/or tube bottoms and/or plate elements and/or cover elements and/or pipe supports and/or fin members.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive film is formed from an adhesive that has at least one component or is formed of only one component and is filler-free or filled with fillers.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger has at least one flow channel through which a fluid is adapted to flow, wherein the flow channel is fluid-tightly sealed from the environment by the adhesive film that is arranged between the individual elements of the heat exchanger.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger has at least one tube, wherein an adhesive film is applied to the tube on at least one of its outwardly directed end regions, wherein a region subjected to the adhesive film is inserted into a recess of a tube bottom, and wherein the adhesive film at least partially covers the contact surface between the tube and the tube bottom and forms a fluid-tight seal between the tube and the tube bottom.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger is formed from a plurality of plate elements stacked on one another, the plate elements being in contact with one another at their edge region, and wherein an adhesive film is arranged between the individual plate elements in a contact region and form a fluid-tight seal between the plate elements.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger has a collecting box, the collecting box being formed from a tube bottom and a cover element inserted into a receiving region of the tube bottom, and wherein an adhesive film is arranged in a receiving area of the tube bottom, which at least partly covers the contact surface between the cover element and the tube bottom and forms a fluid-tight seal between the cover element and the tube bottom.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger has at least one tube that is adapted to be flowed through by a first fluid and surrounded by a second fluid, wherein on an outwardly directed surface of the tube and/or on an inwardly directed surface of the tube, at least one fin member is arranged that is connected to the tube by the adhesive film.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive film is rendered ineffective or destroyed by the action of heat.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger is manufactured from metallic materials and/or from non-metallic materials.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the adhesive film is formed from a thermoplastic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a tube of a heat exchanger and a corrugated fin member, the corrugated fin member being connected to the outer surface of the tube by means of an adhesive film, and

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram for explaining the method for producing a heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a heat exchanger 1. The heat exchanger 1 has a tube 2, to which a fin member 3 is connected. The fin member 3 is connected to the tube 2 by means of an adhesive layer 4, the adhesive layer 4 being formed by an adhesive film 4 which is arranged on the outer surface of the tube 2.

[0060] The adhesive film 4 can be laminated onto the tube 2, i.e., connected to the tube 2 with the aid of an adhesive, or simply placed on the outer surface of the tube 2.

[0061] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the fin member 3 is formed by a corrugated fin member 3. In alternative embodiments, fin-shaped members which are otherwise formed can also be provided in order to increase the outer surface area of the tube that is effective for the transfer of heat.

[0062] FIG. 1 shows only a limited partial view of the heat exchanger 1. Via the elements depicted in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 1 can also have further tubes and fin members. The tubes can also advantageously be accommodated in tube bottoms and/or collecting boxes at the ends.

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a state in which the fin member 3 rests on the adhesive film 4. For bonding, the adhesive film 4 is heated, thereby melting it. Since a pressing force acts on the tube 2 and the fin member 3 at the time of heating, a part of the adhesive film 4 is displaced by the fin member 3 and/or by the tube 2, whereby the layer thickness of the adhesive film 4 is reduced.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram for illustrating the method used for producing a heat exchanger.

[0065] In block 20, the adhesive film is applied to at least one of the elements which are to be bonded together. This can be done by an automated process or manually. The adhesive film can in particular be laminated onto an element or inserted into a recess of an element.

[0066] In block 21, the elements are brought into contact with one another. For this purpose, they are positioned relative to one another in accordance with the later desired appearance of the heat exchanger. In this case, either only two elements can be positioned relative to one another, or a complete arrangement of all elements forming the heat exchanger block or the heat exchanger can be performed analogously to the known brazing methods.

[0067] In block 22, a compressive force is applied to the elements arranged relative to each other. This can preferably be done in a device designed for this purpose.

[0068] In block 23, the elements and the adhesive film are heated, thereby melting the adhesive film. The elements are maintained at a predetermined temperature level for a predetermined period of time in order to allow for the elements to be placed in the layer of the adhesive film and finally to ensure curing of the adhesive layer.

[0069] Cooling of the elements then takes place in block 24. In the following block 25, the tightness of the produced components is tested. Where applicable, a necessary rework also takes place here.

[0070] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is exemplary and shows a section of a heat exchanger in a tube-fin design. The exemplary embodiment has no limiting character, in particular with regard to the applicability of the method to a particular heat exchanger. The block diagram of FIG. 2 is also merely exemplary and does not exclude alternative solution possibilities and variations.

[0071] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.